At the moment, there is no way to invest in Epic Games stock and the company has not announced any plans to conduct an initial public offering (IPO).
However, it’s possible to get some exposure to Epic Games by investing in companies that have an ownership stake in Epic Games or venture funds that have invested in the company.
In this article, we’ll explain why Epic Games stock is not accessible to retail investors and highlight some of the methods you can use to indirectly invest in Epic Games.
About Epic Games
Epic Games is a video game and software development company founded in 1991 by Tim Sweeney. Initially, the company was named Potomac Computer Systems, and later rebranded to Epic MegaGames before settling on its current Epic Games name.
Today, the company is best known as the developer of Fortnite, as well as the Unreal Engine 3D engine. The company’s first major success came in 1998 with first person shooter Unreal, and Epic Games started to license the game’s underlying technology under the name Unreal Engine.
Besides Fortnite, Epic Games has released acclaimed video game series such as Unreal Tournament and Gears of War. The company also operates the Epic Games store, a digital video game distribution service.
Starting with 2019, Epic Games acquired several subsidiaries in the sectors of video game development, animation, motion capture, 3D modeling and more. Some of Epic Games’ most notable subsidiaries include Psyonix (the developers of Rocket League), ArtStation, Harmonix, Sketchfab and Mediatonic.
Will there be an Epic Games IPO?
Currently, Epic Games is a privately owned company, and its shares are not trading on the stock market. For now, the company hasn’t announced any plans to conduct an IPO.
Given the size of Epic Games, we would likely see reports that the company was gearing up to go public well before it actually made an official announcement. Therefore, it’s quite likely that we won’t be seeing an Epic Games IPO in the near future.
Who owns Epic Games?
Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney has the largest ownership stake in the company at 51.4%. Chinese conglomerate Tencent holds a 40% stake in Epic Games, and the firm’s ownership structure is rounded out by Sony, which owns 5.4% and Kirkbi A/S, which owns 3.2%.
Epic Games owners:
- Tim Sweeney (51.4%)
- Tencent (40%)
- Sony (5.4%)
- Kirkbi A/S (3.2%)
How to buy Epic Games stock?
There is currently no straightforward way for retail investors to buy Epic Games stock. To be clear, there are platforms on the market such as Equity Zen and Lindqo, which make it possible to buy stock in private companies such as Epic Games.
However, the availability of stocks on such platforms fluctuates significantly and many deals are only accessible to accredited investors. While you might be able to find an offer for Epic Games stock if you scour through all the private equity platforms, your chances of actually buying shares in Epic Games are fairly low.
One way of getting some exposure to Epic Games would be to purchase shares in Tencent, which has a 40% ownership stake in Epic Games. However, Epic Games is only a part of Tencent’s portfolio of holdings, so your exposure to Epic Games would be very limited.
Another way to get exposure to Epic Games would be to invest in the ARK Venture Fund, a venture capital fund operated by ARK Invest. The ARK Venture Fund announced its investment into Epic Games in October of 2022.
Currently, it’s possible for retail investors to invest in the ARK Venture Fund through the SoFi and Titan platforms. However, you should keep in mind that investing in such a fund is highly risky due to the speculative nature of venture capital.
Alternatives to Epic Games
Even though Epic Games is not publicly traded, there are other major video game development companies that are listed on the stock market in the United States. Here’s a selection of alternatives to consider:
Epic Games stock FAQs
Now, let’s quickly address some of the most common questions users have on regarding the topic of Epic Games stock and the company potentially going public in the future.
Is Epic Games a publicly traded company?
No, Epic Games is not a publicly traded company. The company is privately owned, and is controlled by its founder Tim Sweeney, who has a 51.4% stake in Epic Games.
When will Epic Games go public?
It’s currently unclear when Epic Games will go public, as the company hasn’t announced any plans to conduct an IPO.
What is the valuation of Epic Games?
In April 2022, Epic Games announced an investment round in which Sony and Kirkbi A/S invested $1 billion each into the company. The investment round valued Epic Games at $31.5 billion.
What is the Epic Games stock symbol?
Epic Games currently doesn’t have a stock symbol or ticker, as the company is not publicly traded on a stock exchange.
What is the Epic Games stock price?
Epic Games doesn’t trade publicly, so its stock price is not public information. However, it’s worth noting that the company was valued at $31.5 billion as of April 2022.
The bottom line
Epic Games is a major video game company, so it’s not too surprising that many investors are wondering how they can invest in its success. However, Epic Games stock is currently not available for purchase to retail investors, as the company is held privately. As of February 2024, Epic Games hasn’t announced any plans to conduct an IPO.
If you’re also interested in the stock market as a whole, make sure to take a look at our list of the best stocks to buy now.
Source: https://coincodex.com/article/37573/epic-games-stock/